Play set for toy vehicles made from foamed material

ABSTRACT

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a toy vehicle play set that will inspire children&#39;s imaginations, while allowing for a fun and safe toy. More particular, it is the object of the present invention to provide a play set for toy vehicles made from a foamed material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toy vehicles and toy vehicle tracks and play sets are a popular categoryof toys. To date, most toy vehicle play sets are made by connectingtrack pieces, and attempt, in one means or another, to propel the toyvehicle along the track. Although watching a toy vehicle roll down atrack is exciting, it takes the control of the vehicle out of thechild's hand. This limits the fun of steering and controlling where andwhen toy vehicles will go on the play set, and thus does not inspirecreativity or imagination. Furthermore, most toy vehicle play sets aremade of a hardened plastic material. The plastic material facilitatesthe ability of the toy vehicle to roll freely through the play set;however, the hard plastic can often have sharp edges, and mating trackpieces can pose a pinch danger while assembling and using the play set.

Foamed material is a common construction material for many types oftoys. Foamed material has been used extensively for toys, which mayrequire a soft or safe material, such as foam toy footballs andbasketballs. The foamed material has the advantage of being sturdyenough to simulate a solid object; however, foam is also soft enough toprovide a cushion or damping effect, which makes for a safer toy. One ofthe most popular examples of a foamed toy is that of a foamed football.While a real football may be to heavy for a child to throw, a foamedfootball is not. A real football may injure a child trying to catch,while a foamed football is light enough and soft enough to preventinjury.

In light of the success and popularity of toy vehicle play sets, andfurther considering 1—the limitations of the prior art briefly describedconcerning the toy vehicle play sets, and 2—said advantages of usingfoamed material in a child's toy, there exists a need for an improvedand different type of toy vehicle play set.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 sets forth an overall view of a mountain terrain version of thefoamed play set for use with toy vehicles. The structure is made from afoamed material, which is shaped in such a way to be used as a play setfor toy vehicles. The structure has a flat base (1), which allows theplay set to rest on a flat surface while in use. On the said flat base,there exists at least one ramp (6), which angles directly up from saidflat surface, thus allowing a toy vehicle to move smoothly from the saidflat surface and onto the foamed play set. Formed into the play set area series of roads, paths, or trails (4). Some roads, paths, or trailsmay be on an incline, thus simulating a hill to allow a freewheeled toyvehicle to roll by way of gravity along the road, path, or trail. Theroad, paths, or trails are made up of straight sections, as well ascurved and winding portions to provide variety to the play set. Theroad, paths, or trails, along with the simulated landscape of the toy,can be shaped such to form tunnels (2) for toy vehicles to move throughwhile rolling along the said roads, paths, or trails. The play setstructure will have formed into it a series of caves like formations(3). These caves will be used as a hiding place for toy vehicles whilethe play set is in use, and also to be used as a storage mechanism fortoy vehicles while the play set is not in use. Said caves may be locatedanywhere on the play set where there exists a space large enough tocapacitate a cave.

The structure will also have at least one flat section (5) for use as aparking section or helicopter toy vehicle-landing pad. Said flat sectionwill also be utilized in conjunction with the foamed bridge shown inFIG. 2. Both ends of the bridge will be comprised of a flat base (2),with a ramp starting from said flat base and going to level of thebridge necessary to make the bridge sturdy enough to serve as a bridgefrom one play set to a second play set. One end of the foamed bridgewill be able to rest on said flat section of one play set, and thesecond end of the foamed bridge will be able to rest on said flatsection of a second play set, thus allowing toy vehicles to cross overfrom one play set to a second play set.

A coating that will enhance the landscape features and also provide thefoam with more durability may cover the foam material of the play set.

The preferred embodiment of the play set may contain some or all of thefeatures described and shown in FIG. 1; however, the landscape or themeof the play set can be formed into any structure that would facilitatethe use of toy vehicles. Given the general principle of the play set,several theme variations may include, but are not limited to:cityscapes, planets, mountain terrain, rivers and bodies of water,desserts, and replicas of national and world monuments.

1. A play set made out of a foam material for use with toy vehicles. 2.A play set according to claim 1, comprising: a flat base; at least oneramp, formed by shaping an angle in said foamed material, with thevertex of the said angle connected to said flat base and said ramp, andsaid angle being acute; a plurality of roads, trails, and paths formedinto said foamed material for use with said toy vehicles.
 3. A play setaccording to claim 2 wherein said plurality of roads, trails, and pathscomprise of straight sections, curved sections, and hill sections.
 4. Aplay set according to claim 1, comprising: at least one tunnel formedthrough the said foamed material wherein portions of said plurality ofroads, trails, and paths go through the said tunnel; at least one cavelike formation; at least one flat area.
 5. A play set according to claim1 covered in a coating wherein said coating provides details oflandscape and/or provides means to make the foam more durable.
 6. Aremovable bridge portion comprising: two ends; said ends comprising of aflat bottom portion such that said removable bridge can be rested onsaid flat area of said play set; said ends further comprising of aangled portion formed by shaping an angle between said flat bottomportion, with the vertex of the angle being connected to said flatbottom portion and said angled portion, and said angle being acute.